Galesburg Police cracking down on drunk drivers this Halloween

October 24, 2013 03:15 PM

Galesburg police will crack down on drunk drivers with an aggressive Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement effort during Halloween.

"The scariest part of Halloween is not the spooky costumes and scary pranks, its drunk drivers. All too often, party-goers don’t plan ahead and choose to drive after drinking, but a costume can’t disguise drunk driving," said Lt. Russell Idle of the Galesburg Police Department.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), between 2007 and 2011, 52 percent of all national fatalities occurring on Halloween night involved a drunk driver. Young men are particularly at risk of being involved in a traffic crash as a result of "buzzed" or drunk driving. Males ages 21-34 comprised almost half of all drunk drivers who were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes nationwide during the 2011 Halloween period.

"If you celebrate with alcohol, you don’t belong behind the wheel," Idle said. "A sober and safe ride after the party is the best treat you can give yourself and everyone else who is on the road this Halloween."

To keep safe, Lt. Idle recommends these tips:

Before the Halloween festivities begin, plan a way to safely get home at the end of the night.

Always designate a sober driver.

If you are impaired, take a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, use public transportation or sleep it off at the party location.

Walking impaired can be just as dangerous as drunk driving. Designate a sober friend to walk you home.

If you see a drunk driver on the road, contact local law enforcement.

If you know someone who is about to drive after drinking, take their keys and help them make safe travel arrangements.